Lagos police arrest 80 suspects, kill 2 in one week

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested 80 suspected criminals and killed two suspected armed robbers in a series of intelligence-led operations across the state in the early days of October.

The command also recovered firearms, ammunition, six vehicles and other exhibits, while nine suspected vandals allegedly targeting infrastructure along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road were arrested.

Among those arrested were three suspected members of a gang allegedly terrorising motorists along the Ife Expressway in Osun State, who reportedly robbed a traditional ruler of his crown and other valuables.

Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Fatai Tijani, disclosed this yesterday at a press briefing at the command headquarters, Ikeja.

Tijani said the command also arrested 19 suspected fraudsters, comprising 17 males and two females, who allegedly lured members of the public with fake employment opportunities before defrauding them.

The CP said the command recovered four pistols, eight locally fabricated firearms, four live 9mm ammunition, number plates, six mobile phones, electrical wires and six vehicles, among other exhibits.

According to him, two suspected armed robbers were killed while another was arrested during an operation carried out after the police received intelligence that a robbery syndicate was preparing to carry out an operation in Lagos.

He said the suspects engaged the police in a gun battle after realising that operatives were closing in on them, resulting in the death of two suspects and the arrest of another.

Tijani said the arrested suspect had confessed to participating in about 20 robbery operations across Lagos, adding that information obtained from him was assisting investigators in tracking other members of the gang.

The CP further disclosed that the suspect was allegedly linked to a robbery operation along the Ife Road axis and was identified by a victim in connection with a major robbery incident in Ondo State, where property reportedly worth about N15.5 billion was allegedly stolen.

On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, Tijani said nine suspects were arrested for allegedly dismantling and removing iron wires and other infrastructure materials installed along the ongoing project.

He warned criminals targeting critical infrastructure that the police would continue to monitor the area and arrest those involved in vandalism and theft.

The CP also warned motorists and other road users to comply with traffic restrictions on the Coastal Road, stressing that commercial motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, and unauthorised minibuses were prohibited from using the route.

He added that the police, in collaboration with relevant authorities, had commenced the removal of makeshift structures erected around the road, warning against illegal parking and the erection of unauthorised structures.

Meanwhile, three members of a gang allegedly terrorising motorists along the Ife Expressway in Osun State have narrated how they operated on the highway.

The suspects, according to the police, were involved in a series of highway robbery operations during which they allegedly snatched vehicles and dispossessed motorists of their valuables.

The gang was also alleged to have robbed a monarch of his crown, other valuables and an undisclosed amount of cash.

However, one of the suspects claimed that the monarch was not their intended target, saying they were returning to Lagos after a robbery operation when they sighted the monarch’s vehicle.

According to the suspect, a member of the gang identified as Obinna allegedly stopped the monarch’s vehicle and dispossessed him of his valuables.

The gang was also alleged to have blocked the Ife Expressway during their operations, robbing motorists of their vehicles and other valuables estimated at about N50 million.

Tijani identified the suspects as Chubuzor Anasihwe, 31; Uchenna Steven, 26; and Ejike Ani, 31.

He said the suspects were arrested at two different locations in Lagos by operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit following actionable intelligence.

The CP said preliminary investigation linked the suspects to robbery operations allegedly carried out on August 23 and September 30, 2026, along the Ife Expressway in Osun State.

He said about five vehicles were allegedly snatched during the operations, while valuables estimated at approximately N50 million were reportedly carted away.

Tijani said one Toyota van, with registration number BDJ 180 AJ and registered in Oyo State, was recovered from the suspects.

He said the suspects had made confessional statements and were assisting the police in efforts to recover the other stolen vehicles, arrest other members of the gang and recover the weapons allegedly used during the operations.

Narrating his involvement in the crime, Ejike said it was one of his friends, Obinna, who invited him to participate in the robbery.

He said: “It was one of my friends, Obinna, that invited us for the operation. He told us that we wanted to go and snatch vehicles.

“I told him that I was broke and that I needed money. That was when he told me about this operation and I agreed.”

The suspect, however, claimed that the gang did not use real firearms during the operation.

According to him, the gang members allegedly improvised guns using sticks carved in the shape of firearms and wrapped with cello tape.

He said: “We didn’t use any gun. We only improvised guns with sticks that were carved like guns and wrapped in cello tape.

“We were sitting at the back of the vehicle when we were returning to Lagos after the operation, when Obinna sighted the monarch’s car.

“He was the one that took everything from him. We didn’t know that he collected his crown and other valuables. It was later that the police showed us everything.”

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